Master of Project Management (MPM)

AR
First: MPM Program Core Courses’ Description
SCM517 ( Supply Chain Management )Credit hours: 3

Supply Chain Management (SCM) requires cross- functional integration of key business processes within the firm and across the network of firms that comprise the supply chain. The challenge is to determine how to successfully accomplish this integration. The distinction between logistics and supply chain management is identified and a framework for SCM is presented. A class session will be devoted to each of the eight supply chain processes as well as to topics such as: the management components of supply chain management; electronically linking the supply chain; integrating supply chain strategy to corporate strategy; supply chain mapping; supply chain metrics; developing and implementing partnerships in the supply chain; and, implementing supply chain management.

pre-requisite None

MGT516 ( Team Management and Leadership Skills )Credit hours: 3

Supply Chain Management (SCM) requires cross- functional integration of key business processes within the firm and across the network of firms that comprise the supply chain. The challenge is to determine how to successfully accomplish this integration. The distinction between logistics and supply chain management is identified and a framework for SCM is presented. A class session will be devoted to each of the eight supply chain processes as well as to topics such as: the management components of supply chain management; electronically linking the supply chain; integrating supply chain strategy to corporate strategy; supply chain mapping; supply chain metrics; developing and implementing partnerships in the supply chain; and, implementing supply chain management.

pre-requisite None

MGT513 ( Legal and Ethical Aspects of Business )Credit hours: 3

The legal environment plays a significant role in facilitating and constraining business activity. This course is structured to provide students with an overview of International and KSA statutory and judicial efforts to regulate business activity such as contract management, property law, equal opportunity in employment, labor law, environment law, protection of intellectual property rights and cover current issues affecting business including globalization and international trade and antitrust regulation. An introduction to ethical theory and decision-making models, the course will focus on challenges to make ethical decisions and application of ethics to business decision making. The course also addresses the various likely to be a part of any project, including agreements between all concerned parties and stakeholders. Specific contract terms, such as responsibilities of the respective parties, lien provisions, indemnification, and charge orders, causes of disputes and methods for resolutions, and their importance to project contracting and management are emphasized.

pre-requisite None

FIN522 ( Financial and Managerial Accounting )Credit hours: 3

This course will provide an overview of how managerial accounting information supports the operational needs of businesses in planning, controlling, and decision-making strategies. The goal is to provide both theoretical and practical applications of advanced managerial accounting. Cost analysis is integrated through evaluating various cost processes including product costing, activity-based costing, and just in time. Developing performance measurement techniques and managing customer and employee relationships in a diversified, global economy. Managers have a duty of care to manage their project’s finances in a prudent and transparent manner and is therefore responsibility of a project manager to ensure sound financial management, forecasting of project outcomes, cash flow estimations, Earned Value Management, Capital Investment/ Project Appraisal, Capital Structure Analysis, Break Even and Leverage analysis.

pre-requisite MPM501

MGT514 ( Principles of Quality Management )Credit hours: 3

The course introduces the concepts and benefits of having a systematic approach to business process and quality management for the purpose of improving quality and reducing waste. Foundational principles of quality concepts namely QC/QA, six sigma, lean management, re-engineering, TQM strategy, TQM data capture, Theory of Constraints, Kaizen theory, and effective communication techniques used to integrate the quality principles into the culture and activities of the organization.

pre-requisite MPM501

Second: Project Management-Specific Core Courses’ Description
MPM501 ( Foundations in Project Management )Credit hours: 3

This course will provide a broad overview of the make-up of a project and the fundamental activities that take place in project management. The project life cycle is introduced together with the key activities within the sequential phases. The process of defining the project including setting objectives, determining scope, identifying stakeholders and clarifying strategies will also be evaluated. The increasingly critical role of project management within organizations shall be examined including the underpinning project management processes. The importance of project organization (people, communications, and resources) will be introduced, with an emphasis on the provision of adequate leadership, structures and feedback reporting paths through and across the organization.

pre-requisite None

MPM502 ( Project Integration and Scope Management )Credit hours: 3

Successful project outcomes depend on an effective project management plan as well as adherence to a scope management process. They also begin with the proper integration of related project elements across project process groups and knowledge areas. This course explores the project planning and integration processes, including developing the project charter and project management plan; directing and managing execution; monitoring and controlling work; integrated change control; and project closeout. The scope management portion of the course covers the processes that ensure all the work, and only the work, required for successful project completion is included in the project. Scope processes include scope planning and definition, creating a work breakdown structure, and scope verification and control.

pre-requisite MPM501

MPM503 ( Project Resources and Contract Management )Credit hours: 3

Resource Management challenges are the top issues facing project management today. The course is outlined to include process to assess resource management, identify the skills and roles key to success and involve the Project Management Office (PMO) in improving resource management across the organization. The course will cover benchmarked resource management practices in the industry to manage and optimize resources, resource allocation, resource levelling, resource forecasting, role of PMO and challenges in resource management. The course aims to provide an understanding of contracting required by the project managers. The course provides walk through of the procurement management and its processes, contract administration, application of procurement management and contracting related practices, negotiation skills, contract cost estimating, pricing and analysis, provider selection and management, conflict management, ethics frameworks and professionalism.

pre-requisite MGT513

MPM504 ( Project Schedule Management )Credit hours:

This course focuses on the project schedule as one of the most visible pieces of the project plan and how it is the key to keeping a project on track. This is the tool that communicates what work needs to be performed, which resources of the organization will perform the work and the timeframes in which that work needs to be performed. The course will illustrate through discussion of practical cases how should the project schedule reflect all the work associated with delivering the project on time. It will obviate that without a full and complete schedule, the project manager will be unable to communicate the complete effort, in terms of cost and resources, necessary to deliver the project. This course will provide an in-depth investigation and coverage on how to build processes and outputs into the project that assist the manager and team to complete the project in a timely manner.

pre-requisite MPM502

MPM505 ( Project Risk and Cost Management )Credit hours: 3

This course covers the area of risk and cost management in the project context. It highlights the importance of risk management and the need for project managers to think ahead in this regard. The course provides a systematic method for identifying the risks that can result in cost overruns, delayed schedules, or failure to meet performance standards. It contains essential risk management theory and concepts as applicable to project environments including project risk planning, preparation and response. It also overviews the areas of risk identification, assessment, monitoring and control. Qualitative and quantitative risk analysis techniques will be presented to students within this course. Quantitative tools namely: Expected Monetary Value, Three-point estimates, probability distributions, Delphi Technique, Simulation ; Decisions making under uncertainty and leveraging projects are included. The project cost management segment integrates risk and presents an understanding of Project Cost Estimate, Project Budget, Variance analysis and corrective action using Earned Value Management.

pre-requisite MPM503, FIN521, MGT514

MPM506 ( Capstone Project )Credit hours: 3

This capstone project is designed to allow students to complete an independent project demonstrating their conceptual, analytical, research and practical project management skills achieved through the courses in the program. In the capstone, students will create several of the key planning deliverables discussed in the courses and either work on a project they choose or use a suggested case study. It is a closely supervised experience resulting in a research paper that demonstrates student’s ability to synthesize and utilize the skills and knowledge. Upon completing students will be able to (1) write a narrative charter statement, (2) create a work breakdown structure, (3) sequence project activities,(4) build a project schedule, (5) create a project budget, (6) create a responsibility assignment matrix, (7) identify project risks and (8) define responses for those risks. The capstone project plan will be presented for evaluation to the executive board and peer reviewed.

pre-requisite All courses of Levels 1 ,2 and 3

MPM507 ( Project Management Certification Training )Credit hours: 3

The Project Management Certification Training is an independent study option that provides students a road-map to PMP certification. The core objective of this course is to adequately prepare students for the PMP examinations. The core curriculum of the PM Boot Camp outlines the comprehension and understanding of the test content as well as the exam skills and tricks. Students will undergo extensive series of Project Management Workshops conducted in alliance with a registered PMP training unit and handled by PMP certified and highly experienced trainers. The attendees will be given access to real time case studies, practice questions and mock exams. Students at the end will be tested for their competency in project management.

pre-requisite All courses of Levels 1 ,2 and 3

Third: MPM Program Elective Courses’ Description
MGT515 ( Strategic Management )Credit hours: 3

This course covers basic principles, skills, and tools of strategic management, to provide students with an overview of the planning process of business strategies. Topics include concepts of corporate strategy, the decision-making process, strategic thinking, formation, implementation and evaluation of strategy.

pre-requisite MPM501, MPM502, MPM503

MKT531 ( Strategic Marketing )Credit hours: 3

Discusses conceptual frameworks and analytical tools used in formulating marketing strategies for organizations. Focuses on developing students’ competence in effectively managing the strategic marketing function of an organization to develop and nurture a sustainable competitive advantage. Topics include the strategic role of marketing in the organization, industry analysis, market segmentation and targeting, competitive strategies, etc. Emphasis will be placed on applications using case studies and/or computer game simulation of competitive interaction and the development of a strategic marketing plan.

pre-requisite MPM501, MPM502, MPM503

MKT532 ( Information and Communications Management )Credit hours: 3

Management Communications sharpens written, oral, and listening skills to meet the demands of a successful managerial communicator. The emphasis of the course is placed on strategically evaluating and creating articulate communications relative to managerial situations along with effectively and efficiently developing procedures for solving communication problems. Topics include structuring message content and argument; communication style, tone, and strategy; presentation graphics; ethics; technologically mediated, intercultural, and crisis communications; documentation/archives and status, functional and performance reporting to project stakeholders.

pre-requisite MPM501, MPM502, MPM503, MGT513

ECON522 ( Managerial Economics )Credit hours: 3

Managerial economics is the application of economic theory and methodology to managerial decision-making problems within various organizational settings such as a firm or a government agency. The emphasis in this course will be levied on demand analysis and estimation, production and cost analysis under different market conditions, and forecasting and decision-making under uncertainty. Students enrolling in this course are expected to have had some exposure to economics and be comfortable with basic algebra and have some background of calculus although not necessary.

pre-requisite MPM501, MPM503

MGT519 ( Decision Making in Business Management )Credit hours:

This course is designed to introduce the student to the principles, techniques and tools for modelling and solving decision making problems. The course outlines both qualitative and quantitative tools/techniques to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of the scientific approach to decision making. Several quantitative methods are introduced in applying mathematics to solve management problems quantitatively namely: describing and visualizing data, linear programming, forecasting, decision analysis, statistical analysis. Qualitative analysis focuses on subjective judgement based on non-quantifiable information, such as management expertise, industry cycles, strength of research and development and labor relations.

pre-requisite None

MGT517 ( Entrepreneurship )Credit hours: 3

This course provides students with the skills necessary to succeed as an entrepreneur. The fundamentals of starting and operating a business, developing a business plan, obtaining financing, marketing a product or service and developing an effective accounting system will be covered. Also, this course evaluates the business skills and commitment necessary to successfully operate an entrepreneurial venture and reviews the challenges of entrepreneurship.

pre-requisite MPM501, MPM502, MGT514

OR523 ( Operations Research )Credit hours: 3

This course focuses on the application of linear programming techniques. Most of the mathematical models presented in the course are normal prescriptive or optimization applications. The models include the Diet, Work-Scheduling, Capital Budgeting, Short-Term Financial Planning, Blending, Multi-period Decision (Inventory model), Multi-period Financial Model, and Multi-Period Work Scheduling. The course includes discussions of the simplex algorithm and other methods to derive solutions for the above models. The Excel Solver software is also used in the course to solve linear programming problems. Discussions (Sensitivity Analysis) are included as to how changes or variations in a linear programming’s parameters affect the optimal solution.

pre-requisite None

MGT511 ( Production and Operations Management )Credit hours: 3

This course is designed to provide an understanding of the financial, commercial and cost aspects of project management. It explores the business and commercial environment in which projects exist, critically evaluating the factors that influence the strategic and financial rationale for the project. It provides an understanding of how the business case for projects is developed, established and evaluated, together with the processes involved, supported by an understanding of financial and accounting protocols and practices. As such, the course recognizes the importance of the effective cost management of projects and is designed to develop each student's abilities to provide effective cost control, cash flow and financial forecasts at every stage of the project.

pre-requisite None

TQM534 ( Total Quality Management )Credit hours: 3

This course builds on an understanding of Quantitative Decision Making to develop a personal understanding of quality management theory and practices. Topics include quality definition, quality management history, Principals of Quality management, Deming fourteen quality points, Deming cycle, quality deployment strategies (lean, six sigma), quality metrics and considerations based on application sector (manufacturing, service, not for profit, government). Quality assurance, ISO standards for quality, Quality management tools and techniques.

pre-requisite MPM501, MPM502, MPM503,MGT514

MPM508 ( Project, Program, and Portfolio Management )Credit hours: 3

The Project, Program and Portfolio Management course will introduce students to senior management decision-making models. It will outline the difference between portfolio management which involves prioritization, risk assessment and deployment of resources across an entire organization to achieve benefits to the whole-of-business. In contrast, program management identifies benefits and realizes outcomes across programs and projects, and project, program and portfolio management which concentrate on the development of a realistic picture of an organization’s business and future strategy and how to best use company resources to achieve beneficial results. These resources include adopting standards across an enterprise, developing staff competency through education and training, and implementing reporting regimes to provide senior management with information for sound decision making. Program Management feeds into portfolio decision making by providing accurate and real-time data, quality assurance across programs and projects and ensuring consistent processes are maintained.

pre-requisite MPM501, MPM502, MPM503